Hello again! Allow me to properly introduce myself. Most people call me Ellie although I will respond to Eleanor, Len, El, Elbel, Smellie, and Smeleanor( I have my sister to thank for the last two). Want to have a guess at my middle name? Hint: it is classically a boys name, a term of measurement, and it starts with the letter G.

I was born on August 6th 1996 in a far away city called Sacramento, CA. I have a younger sister named Becca, and a cat named Kitty. I love them both very much. As a child I could often be found solving puzzles, climbing trees, playing in the mud, dressing up in costumes just because, and begging my parents to buy me a puppy. Come to think of it, I can still be found doing all those things! (Except for the puppy… After years of puppy rejection it seems I have morphed into a cat lover.)

I recently graduated Oregon State University (beavers not ducks) where I studied Finance and Economics(I like numbers). In my free time I enjoy exploring Oregon via hiking boots, kenken puzzles, aerial silks, playing board games, and of course, creating schedules galore. My role at camp is the Puppet master- which means I create all the schedules for all of camp! Have a clinic you want to request? Come let me know!

My journey at Camp Augusta began in 2004 when I arrived at camp for the first time as a mini camper. I vividly remember arriving at camp that first day. I was wearing a bright yellow visor that I had won at a school carnival the day before. As my mom and I were packing my bag for camp, I read something on the packing list that said to label everything you bring with you. Without haste, I grabbed a sharpie and wrote “ELLIE” in giant letters across the rim of my visor. Now I knew I wouldn’t lose it. Phew. Upon arriving at camp, every single counselor who walked past me greeted me by my name. My 8 year old self (who of course forgot that they were wearing a visor that declared their name) was baffled by how everyone could possibly know my name. I decided that there were only two logical explanations. #1. That every single campers’ name was Ellie, and so the staff would automatically know everyones name. Or #2. Magic. I decided it was obviously #2… It was in that moment that I realized all the wish wonder and surprise that camp holds and I haven’t been able to stay away since. After several years as a mini camper and attending family camp I finally became a full camper. After 5 years as a camper, I decided I was excited to help create the magic that I had been lucky enough to experience for so many years. And with that, I began my journey to become a staff member. After completing the CIRCLE program, and spending two summers as a junior counselor, I am SO excited to spend the summer spreading wish wonder and surprise, while playing under the pine trees and in the woodchips as a Manzi mama!

I look forward to meeting all of you and smothering oatmeal in your face!

Here are some captions for the photos below. Can you match the picture with the caption?

My mini camp cabin during my first camp Augusta experience (hint: I’m the one with the pigtail braids).